Bow rest and clamping device.



N. H. RANSOM.

BOW REST AND CLAMPING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.20, 19l5.

Patented July 18, 1916.

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- State of Indiana,

NEWELL H. RANSOM, OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA.

BOW BEST AND CLAMPING DEVICE.

Application filed December 20, 1915.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, NEwELL H. RANsoM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fort IVayne, in the county of Allen and have invented new and useful Improvements in Bow Rest and Clamping Devices, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to devices for supporting and clamping the bows of folded vehicle tops.

The object is to provide a strong, durable and eflicient device which is simply and the folded bows in easily operated to clamp bows when the position and to release the top is to be raised.

Other objects and advantages will appear hereafter in the. description of the accompanying drawings in which the preferred form of my invention is illustrated and in which Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a device constructed according to the invention. Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of the same with the clamp open. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the cam sleeve. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the controlling lever and parts connected thereto.

Referring to the drawings 10 is the Support for the bow rest 11, which rest is integral with or secured to the support. The upper surface of the rest is suitably formed to receive and retain the lowermost bow. At the upper end, or other suitable point, of

i the support is a collar 12 by which the support may be clamped to a rod or bracket projecting from the body of the vehicle, bolt 13 securing the collar to the rod or bracket.

The support is preferably U-shaped, an integral plate 14 closing its top and the lower end being curved or bent outwardly and terminating in the bow rest.

A guide lug 15 is secured to or cast within the support and is provided with a vertically arranged opening 16, into which a pin 17 extends, the pin being fixed in the lug or other suitable part of the support. A sleeve 18 is slidable in opening 16 and is provided with a cam slot 19 into which slot the inner end of pin 17 projects. The upper end of the sleeve is threaded upon the lower end of a rod 20 and hold tight thereon by nut 21 and lock washer 22. Rod 20 extends upwardly through an opening in plate 14 and its upper end is curved or bent to form Specification of Letters Patent.

' wardly PatentedJuly is, 1916.

Serial No. 67,756. r

clamp 23 which corresponds to and cooperates with rest 11. The lower end of sleeve 18 is threaded upon a bolt 24, the head ofwhich is bifurcated. The upper end of link 25 is'pivoted at 26 within the bifurcated head of bolt 24, the lower end of the link being curved or bent forwardly. Lever 27 is pivoted at 28 to and within the support, and rearwardly of its pivot 28 it is pivoted at 29 to the lower end of link 25. Lever 27 is preferably curved in order that it shall, for a large proportion of its length, pass within the support, or conform to the curvature of the lower end of the support. The specific form of the lower end of the support or of the link and lever are not material, but when constructed in the form described the device presents an exceedingly neat appearance. The support being U-shaped serves as a housing for the parts within it.

In operation, and with the device attached to the vehicle and it being desired to'put down the vehicle top, the user grasps lever 27 and rocks it downwardly and rearwardly on its pivot 28. This movement of the lever drives the link, the sleeve and the rod and bow clamp upwardly. arm passes pivot 28 spring 30 automatically continues the upward movement of the parts and holds them up. Since pin 17 is engaged in the cam slot in the sleeve, the sleeve and the rod and clamp are compelled to rotate upon the bifurcated bolt 24. The cam is of such size and location and the parts below the sleeve are so proportioned, that when the lower end of the cam slot abuts pin 17 the clamp will have swung through an angle of 90 and will have beenelevated sufficiently to clear all the bows of the vehicle top when they are folded down with the lowermost one resting upon rest 11. The cam in sleeve 18 is. beginning at its upper end, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the sleeve for a short distance and then curves around onefourth of the periphery of the sleeve. The parallel portion of the cam slot permits the sleeve and the rod and clamp to travel upand the curved portion of the slot, under the influence of the pin, produces the turning movement of the sleeve and rod and clamp. When the bows are in folded position upon rest 11 the lever is drawn forward and upwardly and the reverse movements of the sleeve and rod and clamp take As soon as the lever place, the clamp being drawn tightly onto the bows and securing them upon the rest 1.1. This movement of the lever causes the curved portion of the link to abut pivot 28. Then this occurs pivot 29 is below and for ward of pivot 28 so that the lever is locked and theclamp is firmly held in place. It is apparent that the first operation of the lever raises the clamp. and turns it out of the way of the bows and that the second operation of the lever turns and lowers the clamp upon the bows. The lever enables the operator to draw the clamp down with all necessary tightness, and, because of the arrangement of its pivot and the pivotal connection belock for the bows is obtained by one operation and the operator cannot fail to obtain it.

hat I claim is:

1. The combination with a support carrying a rest for the folded bows of a vehicle top, a clamp carrier revolubly and reciprocably mounted on the support, a sleeve secured to the clamp carrier and having a cam slot therein, a lever having a connection to the sleeve for reciprocating the sleeve and Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the I they clamp carrier and means engaged in the cam slot for causing the sleeve and clamp carrier to rotate as they are reciprocated.

2. The combination with a support carrying a rest for the folded bows of a vehicle top, a clamp carrier having a clamp thereon, the carrier being revolubly and reciprocably mounted on the support, a sleeve secured to the clamp carrier and having a cam slot therein, a bolt loosely engaging the sleeve, a lever having a pivotal connection to the bolt and adapted to reciprocate the sleeve and clamp carrier and the clamp'and means carried by the support and engaged in the cam slot for causing the sleeve and the clamp to rotate as they are reciprocated.

3. The combination with a hollow support carrying a rest for the folded bows of a vehicle top, a clamp carrier revolubly and reciprocably mounted in the support, a clamp on the carrier adapted to engage the top- 1 most bow of the vehicle top, a sleeve within the support and secured to the clamp car'- rier and having a cam slot therein, a pin mounted in the support and projecting into the cam and a lever having a connection to the sleeve for reciprocating the'sleeve and the clamp carrier and the clamp, the pin and cam slot cooperating to cause the sleeve and clamp carrier and the clamp to rotate as are reciprocated. In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 15th day of December, 1915. N EVELL H. RANSOM.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

and clamp carrier 

